Stuffed Animals

By Laura Poythress

By Laura Poythress

On Wednesday, Nov. 4th, students lined up outside Anna Irvin Dining Hall in anticipation of the semi-annual stuff-a-friend event. Each spring and fall semester, the University Program Council (UPC) hosts this event to allow students a chance to break away from their studies.

Once students enter the foyer, there is a table for them to sign in and take an un-stuffed animal of their choice. This semester, students could choose between a husky, giraffe and a dolphin to stuff with plush filling. 

Stuffed giraffe with birth certificate

Once they got their animal, students could go to a table with little gold plush stars and a large box of filling. Students were able to stuff their animals as much or as little as they wished with the filling, but they were also able to put a gold star in the animals to serve as a heart or soul.

Star to go in plush animals

After stuffing their friend, students filled out a “birth certificate,” a sheet of paper for the name of the animal, the date it was “born” or stuffed, where it was born and who the parent or owner is.

Stuff a Friend birth certificate for Gizell the giraffe

Roosevelt Mendez, a Montevallo Junior and the UPC coordinator, says each semester 350 un-stuffed plushes are ordered and as many as 400 students show up. He advises students to show up “at least 30 minutes early” for future stuff-a-friend events. 

Montevallo student showing off their new friends

Mendez says that in the spring semester, stuff-a-friend will have a lion and a cow for college night, and some other animal for green side supporters. “Each fall, we have a whole new set of animals,” said Mendez.

The event is filled with students, young and old, each semester. It has been held each year for more than five years, Mendez says. Senior Ondrea Lee says she participates each time the event rolls around. “I am part of planning this, but it never gets old. It allows me a chance to feel like a little kid again, and I love it.”

Black Friday the husky, stuffed by Brianna Johnson

If you missed the event this semester, keep an eye on your forum email for information to attend in the spring. To see what other events UPC will be hosting, check out their web page here.